Signal device



Sept. 3, 1957 C. J. TlNETTl SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Aug.` 26, 1955- l I 20 20 275 L 22e I 3 ,271'28623 2.31 22 A375 27S 2a zar.- 22 275 a1 a l L: ML 1t Tur Y HL Hf- 27P "40 I :5: 5 I u I l' 39 l? 0 INH 27? 1 27 273 'i 26,2728 S5 l 21 2,6 .35

F 5.3. Y $6 2I7T721 "/27 SIGNAL DEVICE Clarence J. Tinetti, Skokie, Ill.

Application August 26, 1955, Serial No. 530,839

7 Claims. (Cl. 18S-38) This invention relates to signal apparatus and particularly to such apparatus adapted for such as a warning signal on highways or the like.

Warning signal devices for the foregoing purposes have heretofore taken the form of flares or special purpose flashing signal lights. The present invention is concerned however with the provision of a signal device in which a light source may be provided by a conventional flashlight, and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple and reliable actuating and supporting mechanism whereby such a conventional beam-type flashlight may be rotated as a signal beacon. Other and related objects are to provide a novel spring operated actuatiing mechanism of the aforesaid character, to control the speed thereof in a novel and advantageous manner, and to enable the speed to be adjusted by means of a simple and inexpensive character. t

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment, of the present invention and the principles thereof, and what is now considered to be the best mode in which to apply these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a signal apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan section taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the speed control means.

For purposes of disclosure the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a safety signal unit 20 having a hollow base 21 with a mounting platform 22 mounted thereon on a vertical output shaft 23, the platform 22 being adapted to have a conventional beam type flashlight 25 mounted removably thereon as by attaching clips 22C, and the platform 22 is adapted to be rotatively actuated by means including a key-wound spring motor 26 disposed within the base 2l so that the flashlight 25 functions as a rotating signal beacon. The flashlight 25 as herein shown is of the rectangular bodied type, and the clips 22C are particularly adapted for cooperation with this particular shape of flashlight, but it is to be understood that different forms of ashlights may be employed and the clips or other securing means may be correspondingly modified.

The output shaft 23 and the spring motor 26 are mounted in a main frame 27 that is housed within the base 21, such frame structure comprising top and bottom plates 27T and 27B and interconnecting corner posts 27P, and screws 27S are used to hold the frame 27 in position States Patent liatented Sept. 3, 1957 within the box-like base 21. The output shaft 23 is driven at an increased speed from the spring motor 26 by a train of speed multiplying gearing 28G including a terminal pinion 28 fixed on the output shaft 23.

The operating speed of the shaft 23 and the platform 22 are controlled by means of a simple character driven from the output shaft 23. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a control shaft 30 is extended between the plates 27T and 27B and has a pinion 31 thereon near its upper end meshed with a large gear 32 fixed on the shaft 23 and thus the control shaft 30 is driven at high speed and in the direction indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, from the output shaft 23. The control shaft 30 operates at a speed that is governed primarily by an oscillating control rocker 35, such speed being controlled in a secondary sense by the wind or air resistance of a fan or fan fly 36 that is mounted on the control shaft 30. The fan y 36 in the present instance functions in physical cooperation with the control rocker 35 so as to operate and be controlled by the rocker 35.

Thus, the fan fly 36 comprises a pair of oppositely extending blades 36A and 36B extending in opposite directions from the axis of the shaft 30 and relatively long in the direction of the shaft axis. The outer edges of the arm-like blades 36A and 36B are bent or curved as indicated at 136.

The elements of the rocker 35 are carried by a vertical shaft 3S that extends between the frame plate 27T and 27B, and the rocker comprises a pair of diverging armlike members 35K and 35L. The members 35K and 35L are formed as relatively long plates or blades that are quite thin or light and which are secured to the rocker shaft 33 so as to diverge therefrom at an angle of about in the present instance. The members 35K and 35L are so related to the fan fly 36 that as the fan y rotates, each blade 36A and 36B will strike the members 35L and 3ER in succession so that each blade will first impart a counterclockwise rocking movement to the rocker 35 followed by a return rocking movement in a clockwise direction. Two such complete rocking cycles are thus imparted to the rocker 35 in each rotation of the shaft 3i). and as an incident to each Contact between the rocker 35 and the fan ily 36, controlling or speed limiting forces are exerted on the shaft 30.

The effectiveness of such speed ycontrolling forces that are thus exerted is determined in a measure at least by the range of the rocking movements of the rocker, and this range is determined by engagement of means on the rocker 35 with stationary abutment means mounted in the frame 27. Thus the rocker 3S has `a pair of diverging stop arms R and 135L that are formed as extensions of the thin plate members 35L and 35R. The stop arms are thus relatively resilient, and are bent toward each other so that the ends of such arms may strike against diverging stop edges 39K or 39L that vare provided on a stop bar 39. The resilient nature of the arms 135R and 135L causes these arms to initiate reversal of movement of the rocker at each end of its stroke.

The stop bar 39 extends between the ends of the arms 135K and 135L, and, the location or spacing of the edges 39R and 39L serves to determine the extent of the rocking stroke of the rocker 35. This range may be adjusted or varied by longitudinally adjusting the bar 39 and this may be `accomplished by a threaded adjusting member 40. For this purpose the bar 39 is carried on a slotted base 39B, and a set screw 39S extended through the slotted base serves as a guiding means and also may be used to secure the parts in adjusted position. As adjustment of the bar 39 causes wider portions of the pointed or tapered end of the bar 39 to be engaged by the ends 235R and 235L, the extent of the oscillating stroke of the rocker 35 is reduced.

The ,ends of Vthe ,members `or arms 3.5L .and 35.11 .are formed or bent so as to havea cam-like engagement with the curved outer edges 136 -of the blades 36A and 36B, and .thelarraugement :is such lthat .the successive engage ments of a :bjlade 436A or 36B with ,the.. arms SSL ,and 3BR take rplace .at substantially 190 .to-,each other about the axis of 'the shaft .30. Thus the rarm 351. -has=itstend bent at 'SSSLaWay from the plane of thearm ,SSR to provide a cam surface which, when engaged :by one of the -curvedvedges 136, -willfcause counterclockwise movement .to be imparted ;to ithe rocker 35. Similarly the end of the armfSRis bent toward :the plane of the arm L to provide a cam surface rt-hat ,may be engaged by one of the curved surfaces .136 to impart ,clockwise movement-,to'therocker-.

When ia blade 36A-1or ,36B engages the varm SSL so as to `therebyrcclt the rockerliS-in a counterclockwise direction, as view in-Figs. 3 and Li, the arm SSR is -of-course moved in to Ithe lpat-'n of :th-issame blade so that the arm 35K will then be engaged to cause return or clockwise rocking movement, The extent-ofprojection-of the arms 35i( and SSL into the path-of vthe blades of the fanfly 36 serves to determine the force that must be exerted on each arm, and this most inward location of the arms ,SSL and SSR is in turn governed by the adjusted position of the stop bar 3S. Thus the retarding action of the rocker 35 on the control shaft 3@ may be varied .to attain the desired speed of rotation .of the signal-carrying platform 22.

With the structure that is thusprovided, a simple spring motor servesto operate the signal beacon -for periods of three hours or more ,upon a Isingle winding of the yspring motor, and-thus the apparatus may be left unattended for such a period when this is necessary.

From ,the foregoing description it will be evident that the present invention provides a simple spring .driven signal beacon in which the light source may be afforded by a conventional flashlight. -It will also be evident that the speed control mean-s provided for the spring motor under the present invention is simple in character and is readily and easily adjusted.

Thus While :i have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that changes and variations may-be made therein by thoseskilledin the art Without .departing from the `spirit and;scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. For use in a safety signal apparatus of theiYPe including a base having a spring motor thereon, Vavertical output shaft driven by said -spring.motor, and means on said shaft for mounting a beam type ashlight .on said shaft for rotation thereby as a signal beacon,.this improvement which consists in speed governing means Vfor said shaft comprising a control shaft driven Vfrom said output shaft and at a much higher speed than lsaid outputshaft, oppositely projecting arms on said control tshaft, an oscillating control rocker having resilient control arms positioned for alternate engagement by each of said ,projecting arms to impart rocking movements to said rocker, and means operable to yieldingly limit the extent of the rocking movements of said control rocker.

2. For use in a safety signal apparatus of the type including a base having a spring motor thereon, a vertical output shaft driven by said spring motor, and means on said shaft for mounting .a beam type flashlight on said shaft for rotationthereby as a signal beacon,.the improvement which consists in speed governing means for said shaft comprising a control shaft driven from said-output shaft and at a much higher speed than said output shaft, 'acontrol rocker mounted adjacent said control shaft :and adapted for oscillating :rocking movement at high speed, cooperating meanson said Acontrol shaft and said rocker for imparting alternate oppositely directed rocking forces to said yroc-ker upon rotation of said control shaft, 4and means limiting the range of rocking movement ro'fl'sa'id rocher, said cooperating VVmeans including `a resilient arm restraining the rotation of said control shaft to a speed bearing a predetermined ratio to the rocking frequency of said rocker.

3. For use in a safety signal apparatus of the type including a base having a vertical output shaft, a horizontal platform carried .on the upper end of said shaft for rotation thereby, and means on said platform for detachably securingaiflashlight Aon said platform for rotation with said platform -to`thereby provide a rotating signal beacon, a spring motor mounted on said base and operatively ,connected to tsaid ,shaft for ,imparting rotation to said shaft, the improvement which consists in means for controlling the speed vof Vsuch rotation comprising a bladed fan fly driven from said shaft at a speed much greater than the speed of such shaft, an oscillating rocker having resilient diverging arms adapted in oscillating movements :of isaid rocker to be brought `alternately into the .rpath -of the blades of -said fan tiy so that said fan fly imparts opposite oscillating movements .to the rocker, spring means on `said rocker and projecting outwardly away from the rocking axis thereof, and oppositely facing stationary .abutment surfaces disposed in the 'path of said spring means for `limiting and initiating reversalof the movements ,of said rocker.

4. =For use -in a safety signal apparatus of the type including fa .base having a vertical output shaft, la horizontal .platform carried on 'the upper end of said shaft for rrota'tion thereby, means on said platform for securing .a -llashlight -on Vsaid ,platform for rotation with said platform to thereby provide a rotating signal beacon, and a spring Ymotor mounted onsaid base and operatively connected -rto Vvsaid shaft Afor imparting rotation to said shaft, the improvement whichcon'sists in means for controlling the speed I,of such rotation comprising a bladed fan ily driven from said shaft at a speed much greater than the speed of such shaft, an oscillating yrocker having `large area-resilient ,'diverging larms with cam surfaces near the-ends thereof adapted in oscillating movements of said rocker to be brought alternately into the path of the blades of 4said fan ily yfor imparting opposite oscillating movements to the rocker, and means forv limiting and initiating freversal of the movements of said rocker including means for adjusting the oscillating stroke of said rocker.

5. For use in a safety signa-l apparatus of the type including a base having -a vertical output shaft, means for securing a flashlight on said shaft for rotation ',thereby, to provide a rotating signal beacon, Yand -a spring motor mounted on said base and driving said shaft, the improvement which :consists in means for controlling 'the 'speed of such rotation comprising a bladed fan driven from said shaft at Va speed much greater than the speed of s uch shaft, an oscillating rocker'having resilient diverging arms adapted intoscillating movements of said rocker to be brought .alternately into Lthe path of 'the -blades of said fan for imparting opposite oscillating movements to the rocker, and abutment means, for limiting the movements of said rocker.

6. For use in a safety signal apparatus of ,the type including a ,base having a vertical output shaft, means for securing a flashlight on said shaft for rotationthereby to provide a-rotating signal beacon, and a spring motor mounted-on said base and operatively connected to said shaft for imparting rotation to said shaft, the improvement which consistsin means for controlling the speed of such rotation .comprising a bladed fan -fly driven from to the rocker, and resilient means for limiting the rocking movements of said rocker.

7. For use in a safety signal apparatus of the type including, a base, a vertical output shaft rotatably mounted in said base, means for securing a ashlight to said output shaft attached thereto, a spring motor mounted on said base, and gear means operatively connecting said shaft and said signal motor, the improvement which consists in speed governing means for said shaft and comprising a control shaft substantially parallel to the vertical output shaft operatively connected to said shaft, a pair of diverging arms Xed to said control shaft, a rocker shaft substantially parallel to the control shaft References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 959,503 Galland May 3l, 1910 

